HB 1224-FN – VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES
25Mar2014… 0655h
30Apr2014… 1563EBA
2014 SESSION
06/05
HOUSE BILL 1224-FN
AN ACT relative to pipeline operation safety.
SPONSORS: Rep. Baber, Straf 14; Rep. Murotake, Hills 32; Rep. Shepardson, Ches 10; Rep.?Pastor, Graf 12; Rep. Raymond, Belk 4; Rep. Rappaport, Coos 1; Rep.?Mulholland, Graf 17; Rep. Suzanne Smith, Graf 8; Rep. Backus, Hills 19; Rep. Ebel, Merr 5; Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 21; Sen. Watters, Dist 4; Sen. Bradley, Dist 3
COMMITTEE: Science, Technology and Energy
This bill requires the public utilities commission to apply annually to the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration for authorization to conduct pipeline inspections on its behalf.
This bill also modifies the penalties for violation of standards for service equipment.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
25Mar2014… 0655h
30Apr2014… 1563EBA
14-2188
06/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Fourteen
AN ACT relative to pipeline operation safety.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Purpose Statement. Given the importance of pipelines for the transport of natural gas and other energy products to the state’s economy and wellbeing, and given the potential safety and environmental hazards of such pipelines, it is deemed in the best interest of the state for the state to assume oversight for interstate natural gas and hazardous liquids pipelines.
2 New Section; Pipeline Safety. Amend RSA 363 by inserting after section 22 the following new section:
363:22-a Pipeline Operation Safety.
I. The commission shall apply annually to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration of the United States Department of Transportation for authorization to take such actions on its behalf to oversee pipeline operation safety, security, monitoring, and compliance through an inspection process.
II. The commission shall report annually to the house science, technology, and energy committee prior to October 1 on the status of pipeline safety, new and proposed projects, any deficiency in state law that limits the commission’s ability to oversee interstate pipelines, or state regulations for pipelines that do not meet the minimum federal standard.
3 Supervisory Power of Department of Transportation; Violation. Amend RSA 374:7-a, I-II to read as follows:
I. Any person who knowingly or willfully violates any provision of RSA 370:2 or any standards or rules adopted under it by the public utilities commission, relative to gas pipelines and liquefied petroleum gas systems pursuant to the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act, shall be subject to a civil penalty [of not exceeding $100,000 for each violation for each day that the violation persists. However, the maximum civil penalty shall not exceed $1,000,000 for any related series of violations] not to exceed the maximum civil penalty under 49 U.S.C. section 60122(a), as amended.
II. Any person who otherwise violates any provision of RSA 370:2 or any standards or rules adopted under it by the public utilities commission, relative to gas pipelines and liquefied petroleum gas systems pursuant to the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act, shall be subject to a civil penalty [of not exceeding $10,000 for each violation for each day that the violation persists. However, the maximum civil penalty shall not exceed $500,000 for any related series of violations] not to exceed the maximum civil penalty under 49 U.S.C. section 60122(a), as amended.
4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2015.
LBAO
14-2188
11/21/13
HB 1224-FN - FISCAL NOTE
AN ACT relative to best practices for the transmission of energy.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Public Utilities Commission and Department of Environmental Services states this bill, as introduced, may increase state restricted revenue by an indeterminable amount in FY 2015 and each year thereafter. There is no impact on state expenditures, or county and local expenditures and revenue.
METHODOLOGY:
The Public Utilities Commission and Department of Environmental Services states this bill requires the Commission to implement best practices assessment scoring and implement the fee process. This bill directs the fees be used to cover the expense of administering this program with any excess fees being allocated 20 percent to the Oil Pollution Control Fund and 80 percent to the Energy Efficiency Fund. The Commission and Department state this bill may increase state restricted revenue by an indeterminable amount. The Commission does not anticipate overall state expenditures will increase as a result of this bill; however the restricted funding source for the expenditures may change.